Our Story
Made by Hand. Made with Intent.
Every bag has a story. Here's the one that started it all.
"Among fast-consumed, look-alike products, I want to make something more personal, warmer, and more meaningful."
— Merve Yamak, Istanbul
Hello, I'm Merve.
I was born and raised in Istanbul. After graduating in Economics from Marmara University, I began my career in advertising. For nearly 17 years I worked at one of Turkey's leading advertising agencies — first in financial planning and operations, then as a manager in Human Resources, the field I wanted to specialise in.
Around the same time I completed my ICF-accredited coaching training and earned my professional career and executive coach credentials, which I still practise on a project basis today. But over the years I realised that making, designing, and creating something beautiful with my hands was what gave me the most joy.
That creative pursuit, which I kept up with real passion, gradually merged with my experience and discipline and became far more than a hobby — and that's how My Happy Made was born. Today I crochet every bag by hand, stitch by stitch, using the granny square technique.
The My Happy Made philosophy
- No two bags are ever exactly alike — each is a unique combination of colour, weight, and proportion.
- I use only premium cotton yarn and genuine leather for handles — materials that age well.
- Every piece is photographed with a Fujifilm GFX medium-format camera because details matter.
- I work slowly and intentionally. I'd rather make fewer bags beautifully than many bags quickly.
The craft
I bring together the work discipline built over years, my eye for aesthetics, and my care for detail in every piece. Because I believe every bag has its own story, character, and labour.
Among fast-consumed, look-alike products, I want to make something more personal, warmer, and more meaningful. So every piece is born at the end of a careful production process, from carefully chosen materials.
No piece is ever exactly like another — these small differences are the best proof that they're truly made by hand. Thank you for visiting my shop and supporting handmade work.
The Atelier
